1955 Cadillac Series 62

It seemed Cadillac could do no wrong in the mid-'50s -- each year's cars carefully planned to build on the appeal of previous models, as with the 1955 Cadillac Series 62. Take 1955. The '54 Caddys had been fully restyled to look more contemporary yet still unmistakably Cadillac. Because size was everything, wheelbases stretched three inches across the board, out to 129 on the volume Series 62. A deft facelift made this package even more attractive for '55, highlighted by a smoother hood, broader grille, and artfully revised exterior trim.

Cadillac's 331-cubic-inch V-8 was still state of the engine art, and retuning added 20 horsepower for '54. Higher compression and improved breathing yielded 30 more for '55 -- 250 in all except for the plush Eldorado convertible, which had moved from 1953 limited edition to regular-model status; it boasted an exclusive 270-bhp V-8.

Besides a consistent product formula, close attention to customer tastes fueled much of Cadillac's success in these years. For example, the division responded to buyer preference in transmissions by standardizing self-shift Hydra-Matic for all its '55s. Cadillac had obviously gauged the market well, as sales of the 62 convertible, for instance, jumped by 1840 units to 8150.

The 1955 Cadillac Series 62 gave its customers exactly the features they wanted.

Of course, 1955 was a big Detroit year, and Cadillac managed to retail a record 140,777 cars in all. Happy days? You bet.